Moisture control device



March 16, 1948. CORNELIUS 2,437,680

MOISTURE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1945 INVENTOR. f u/z a '4;

Patented Mar. 16, 1948 MOISTURE CONTROL DEVICE Frank H. Cornelius,Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application January 11, 1945, Serial No.572,409

15 Claims.

1 This invention relates to control devices and, more particularly, to adevice for controlling the amount of condensate on the exterior surfaceof a calender roll.

In the manufacture of variegated hard surface linoleum fioor covering,common practice is to calender particles of linoleum mix into a sheet inwhich the variegations extend longitudinally thereof. Such sheet is thensevered into sections, the sections turned though an angle of about 90,and fed through a cross-rolling calender at right angles to thedirection of graining. This serves to further spread the variegationsand to obtain what is known as a marble graining. The cross-rollingcalender includes a hot roll and a refrigerated or cooled roll for thepurpose of obtaining the desired marble graining.

It is believed that the type of graining obtained in this process is dueto friction between the linoleum sheet being cross-rolled and the.refrigerated roll. Since the roll is refrigerated or cooled, vapor fromthe air condenses thereon and it is believed that such vapor plays amaterial part in the formation of the graining. Heretofore, nosatisfactory means were provided to control the amount of condensate onthe refrigerated roll, and hence, it was extremely difficult to controlthe quality of the graining being formed by the calender, making itdiificult to consistently reproduce a desired type of graining.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a device for controllingthe amount of condensate on the exterior surface of a calender roll. Anobject of my invention is to provide control means for controlling theamount of condensate on the exterior surface of a refrigerated calenderroll in order to control the type of graining being produced by thecalender. A further object is to provide in combination with a calender,means for controlling the amount of condensate on the refrigerated rollthereof. A still further object is to provide a device easily installedon standard calender-mg equipment for controlling the type of drainingproduced by thecalender.

This invention relates to a device for controlling the amount ofcondensate on the exterior face of a calender roll and comprises, incombination, a housing enclosing the calender roll, means for injectingvapor in the housing, and control means responsive to the amount ofvapor in the housing for controlling the injecting means.

This invention further relates to the combination of a cooled calenderroll and means for controlling the amount of condensate thereon, saidmeans comprising a housing enclosing the calender roll, means forinjecting vapor in the housing, means for circulating vapor through thehousing, and control means I responsive to the amount of vapor in thehousing for controlling the injecting means.

The attached drawing discloses a preferred embodiment of my inventionand illustrates diagrammatically the device of my invention installedadjacent the refrigerated roll of a crossrolling calender.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a calender having rolls 2and 3, Roll 2 is usually a heated roll while roll 3 is a cold roll andmay be cooled by the circulation of water through the interior thereofor refrigerated by the circulation of brine through the interiorthereof. Overlapped blankets 4 of linoleum composition are shown inposition to be fed through the rolls 2 and 3 to form a grained linoleumsheet 5.

The device of my invention is shown disposed about roll 3 and controlsthe amount of condensate onthe exterior surface thereof. Such devicecomprises a housing or casing 6, the upper surface thereof forming atable I to receive blankets 4. The exterior wall of housing 6 ispreferably covered by insulation 8 of any suitable kind. The housing 6encloses or surrounds roll 3. Within housing 6 are disposed airdistribution plates 9 placed on opposite sides of roll 3. Plates 9contain orifices l0 and serve to distribute the air stream about theexterior surface of roll 3.

An opening II is provided in one end of housing 6 and connects theinterior of housing 5 with a fan I2 by means of duct l3. The oppositeend of the housing is provided with an opening M which connects fan l2with the housing by means of a second duct I 5. It will be observed thatoperation of the fan l2 circulates a" stream of air through duct l3 intothe interior of the housing 6 and withdraws the stream from the interiorof housing 6 through opening l4 and duct 15.

A steam jet I6 is provided which, preferably,

is disposed within the interior of duct 3 and serves to inject watervapor or steam into the air stream passing through duct l3. The jet I6is connected to a steam line I! provided with a suitable reducing valvel8, a gate valve I9, and a control valve 20. The control valve 20, ofcourse, serves to control the amount of steam being injected through jetl6 into the circulating air stream passing through duct l3.

Suitable control means. 2| are provided for controlling valve 20. Suchcontrol means are preferably disposed within theinterior of the housing6 adjacent roll 3 and are responsive to the amount of steam or vapor inthe housing for controlling the amount of steam flowing through thevalve 20. Such means 2| may comprise any suitable psychrometer, such asa wet .and dry bulb differential control or its equivalent, and areconnected to valve 20 and serve to control its operation. A Foxborohumidity controller manufactured by the Foxboro Company has been foundsatisfactory for this purpose.

In the operation of my device, fan I! forces a stream of air throughduct l3 and opening ll into the interior of housing 6. Such stream ofair is broken up by means of plate 9 and distributed about the surfaceof the roll. Since the roll is cooled or chilled, the vapor carried bythe air stream precipitates and condenses on the exterior surface ofroll 3. The air stream is then withdrawn from the interior of housing 6through opening I! and duct l5 by the fan l2. Control means 2| directlycontrols the amount of vapor present in the air stream. forprecipitation or condensation on roll 3. Depending upon the amount ofvapor present in the housing 6, control means It actuates valve 20 topermit steam to be injected through jet l6 into the air stream in ductIS which is being circulated to the interior of housing 8. Thus, controlmeans 2| controls the amount of vapor present in the air stream andavailable to condense on the exterior surface of roll 3 which results indirect control of the film thickness of the condensate on the surface ofthe roll. Since such moisture film thickness appears to have a directbearing on the quality or character of the graining being produced bythe calender, it will be appreciated that this accurate con-' trol ofthe film thickness of the condensate permits an improved graining to beobtained.

The advantages of my invention are readily apparent. My inventionpermits more satisfactory control of the graining of variegated surfacelinoleum. It provides a ready and accurate control of the thickness ofthe water film disposed on the exterior surface of the cooled roll, thuscontrolling the type of graining being produced. Such control device issimple and does not rethe amount oi vapor in said housing forcontrolling the injecting means.

3. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calender roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalender roll, a duct connecting the housing with air circulating means,a second duct connecting said housing with said air circulating means,means for circulating a stream of air through said housing and saidducts to supply air to and withdraw air from said housing, means forinjecting steam into the circulating air stream, and control meansresponsive to the amount of vapor in said housing for controlling theinjecting means.

4. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calender roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalender roll, air distribution plates having orifices therein placed insaid housing on opposite sides of the calender roll, a duct connectingthe housing with air circulating means, a second duct connecting saidhousing with said air circulating means, means for circulating a streamof air through said housing and said ducts to supply air to and withdrawair from said housing, means for injecting steam into the circulatingair stream, and control means responsive to the amount of vapor in saidhousing for controlling the injecting means.

5. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calendar roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalendar roll, a duct, 9. fan connected to said housing by said ductadapted to circulate a stream of air through said housing, a second ductconnected to said fan to permit the fan to withdraw air irom thehousing, means for injecting steam into the circulating air stream, andcon- .trol means responsive to the amount of vapor in said housing forcontrolling the injecting means.

quire constant attention from the operators of the calender and providesa more accurate means of controlling the film thickness of thecondensate than can possibly be provided by the calender operator. Theprovision of my device eliminates variations in graining due to changingatmospheric conditions and assures a constant accurate control ofgraining.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood my invention is not limited theretosince it may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calender roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalender roll, means for injecting vapor into said housing, andcontrolling means responsive to the amount of vapor in said housing forcontrolling the injectin means. A

2. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calender roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalender roll, means for injecting vapor into said housing, means forcirculating vapor through said housing, and control means responsive to6. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calendar roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalendar roll, air distribution plates having orifices therein placed insaid housing on opposite sides of the calendar roll, a duct, a fanconnected to said housing by said duct adapted to circulate a stream ofair through said housing, a second duct connected to said fan to permitthe fan to withdraw air from the housing,.means for injecting steam intothe circulating air stream, and control means responsive to the amountof vapor in said housing for controlling the injecting means.

'7. A device according to claim 4 in which the injecting means comprisesa steam jet disposed in said first duct.

8. In a device for controlling the amount of condensate on the exteriorsurface of a calendar roll, the combination of a housing enclosing thecalendar roll, air distribution plates having orifices therein placed insaid housing on opposite sides of the calendar roll, a fan adapted tocirculate a stream of air in said housing, a duct connecting said fan tosaid housing, a second duct connecting the opposite end of said housingto said fan, a steam jet disposed insaid first duct adapted to injectsteam into said circulating air stream, a steam line connected to saidjet, a control valve disposed in said'steam line, and means disposed insaid housing responsive to the amount of vapor in said housing forcontrolling said valve thereby determining the amount or steam injectedin the circulating air stream.

9. A device according to claim 6 in which th upper surface of saidhousing forms a table for the reception of material to be sheeted by thecalendar and in which a, layer of insulation material is provided aboutthe exterior surface of the housing.

10. In combination with a cooled calendar roll, means for controllingthe amount of condensate thereon, said means comprising a housingenclosing the calendar roll, means for injecting vapor into saidhousing, and control means responsive to the amount-of vapor in saidhousing for controlling the injecting means.

11. In combination with a cooled calendar roll, means for controllingthe amount of condensate thereon, said means comprising a housingenclosing the calender roll, means for injecting vapor into saidhousing, means for circulating vapor through said housing, and controlmeans responsive to the amount of vapor in said housing for controllingthe injecting means.

12. In combination with a cooled calender roll, means for controllingthe amount of condensate thereon, said means comprising a housingenclosing the calender roll, a duct connecting said housing with aircirculation means, a second duct connecting said housing with said aircirculating means, means for circulating a stream of air in said housingand said ducts to supply air to and withdraw air from said housing,means for injecting steam into the circulating air stream. and controlmeans responsive to the amount of vapor in said housing for controllingthe inject-1 ing means.

13. In combination with a cooled calender roll.-

means for controlling the amount of condensate thereon, said meanscomprising a housing enclosing the calender roll, air distributionplates having orifices therein placed in said housing on opposite sidesof the calender roll. a duct connecting said housing with aircirculation means, a second duct connecting said housing with said aircirculating means, means for circulating a stream of air in said housingand said ducts to supply air to and withdraw air from said housing,means for injecting steam into the necting said housing with a fan, afan for circulating a stream of air into said 'housing, a second ductconnecting said fan with said housing to permit it to withdraw a streamof air from said housing, means for injecting steam into the circulatingair stream, and control means responsive to the amount of vapor in saidhousing for controlling the injecting means.

15. In combination with a cooled calender roll, means for controllingthe amount of condensate thereon, said means comprising a housingenclosing the calender roll, air distribution plates having orificestherein placed in said housing on opposite sides of the calender roll, afan adapted to circulate a stream of air in said housing, a

duct connecting said fan to said housing, a second duct connecting theopposite end of said housing to said fan, a steam jet disposed in saidfirst'duct adapted to inject steam into the circulating air stream, asteam line connected to said jet, acontrol valve disposed in said steamline, and means disposed'in said. housing responsive to the amount ofvapor in said housing for controlling said valve thereby determining theamount of steam injected into the circulating air stream.

' FRANK H. CORNELIUS.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,437,680. March 16, 1948.

FRANK H. CORNELIUS It is hereby certified that errors appear in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows: Column 1, line 10, for the word though read through; column2, line 27, for covered by read covered with; column 4, lines 32 and 34,claim 5; lines 44, 46, and 48, claim 6; lines62, 64, and 66, claim 8;column 5, line 6, claim 9; lines 9 and 12, claim 10 ;line 16, claim 11;in each instance the word calendar should read calender; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of May, A. D. 1948.

[snarl] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

